The metaphor of something being a double edged sword might have originated in ancient Arabia when swords were the epitome of weaponry. Others might debate that it originated from the days of the Samurai in Japan. Whatever the origin of the metaphor, it means the same thing globally; that something has the potential for being favorable and also unfavorable. Picture the blade which is sharp on both ends. It is a threat to both the opponent and an inexperienced user.

The reason for the extensive explanation of the metaphor, is to give a clear picture of what the announcement by the CBOE President that the SEC decision to declare Ethereum (ETH) as not fitting the bill of being classified as a security, paves the way for ETH futures being offered by not only the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange), but also other firms such as the CME Group.